PRESTONSBURG – In a civil action filed on behalf of Jennifer Osborne
and her minor son, Ethan, by Ashley Tackett Laferty of Kirk Law Firm,
it is alleged that a mother and her son “suffered serious and permanent
bodily injuries” and that they “have been caused to endure,
now and in the future, pain, suffering and mental anguish” as a
result of what the complaint alleged to be “negligent and reckless”
actions of James Briggs, the operator of a truck allegedly owned by Teco
Coal Corporation, also a party to the suit.

According to the complaint, on March 24, 2009, Briggs was operating a truck
on US 23 at Prestonsburg and that the trailer “became detached”
and crossed into the line of travel of Osborne’s vehicle and crashed
into the sedan she was driving, causing injuries to her and her son.

The complaint stated that Osborne had incurred medical expenses of $30,000
“and will continue to incur medical expenses in the future.”

Among other allegations in the complaint, it is claimed that defendants
had a “duty to inspect, maintain and/or keep in good repair the
condition of the vehicle” that was to be operated on “public
highways.”

The suit seeks damages for alleged past mental and physical pain and suffering,
future mental pain and physical pain and suffering, lost wages and the
impairment of the ability to earn wages in the future and past and future
medical expenses.

“It is a dangerous place out there,” John Kirk said, “and
very scary to imagine a big truck trailer coming loose from the truck
at a high speed and then running totally out of control. Fortunately,
no one died.”